The winners of a student art show that I judged

I am very involved in Culture shapers. It is an organization that has been put together by some of the businesses around Houston. They award very wonderful cash prizes to art students. I have judged in Culture Shapers since the beginning 7 years ago and love it. The prizes are pretty hefty $5,000 being the top prize. I judged over a month ago and the banquet was last night. Students and their parents were fluttering around wondering who had one what. Here are some of the pictures I took of the some of the winners in my sculpture category. I always tell the students that judging is subjective. What one judge may put as number one or move up, another might not. If you did not make it into the top 10 of culture Shapers, don’t be disheartened. Try again, maybe another contest, another area, but most of all keep creating!

The first picture is of of Sheri Balsara, the first place winner. You can't really see her wonderful piece, but I have a link to the first place sculpture below.


Daphne Dodd', second place winner also had a wonderful piece.

Christopher Rahlwes piece made me sick. Seriously. To be around it caused an emotional reaction, and that is just what he wanted to do. I have been studying emotion and art and I saw this piece at a prime moment. It is difficult to see, but he creted it with socks and coffee, it looks like snkes and depicts the horrors of Cthulhu. Great job, terrific emotion. I can't help but wonder if he brings that type of emotion in all of his pieces.

To see all of the sculpture winners http://www.cultureshapers.com/visual-arts/sculpture-winners-06.php
First place piece http://www.ratemycultureshapersentry.com/index.php/main/photo/show?id=2378574
Christopher Rahlwes piece http://www.ratemycultureshapersentry.com/index.php/main/photo/show?id=2378576

What I would change about Culture Shapers or my wish list.
A. The student work must show. I would love to see all of the winning pieces hang in a gallery for a while.

B. I would love to see a judges night, where the judges could display their work- real professional artists, and students could come and view it. A panel of judges would also be available for a question and answer period. ( this is important to encourage and motivate the students and to give them more exposure to the real thing)

C. There are a few things I would change about the judging, but I’m working on that